St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-26
MATTERS IN MONTANA.
Interviews With Stock Men on the North
ern Ranges--The Losses Much
Exaggerated
Great Work Being Done by the Manitoba
Road in Developing the
Territory.
a vast and Unsurpassed Country
Tributary TO the Twin cities Soon
to be Opened.
Some Points for Our Business Men
Who Desire the Trade of New
Region.
special Correspondence of the CLONE.

special Correspondence of the Globe
FORT BENTON, Mont, March 2O.-The
hardest winter known in Montana within
the recollection of the oldest inhabtant-
and he is a resident of Fort Benton. HAVING
been vOyageur of the American Fnr corn-
pahy, his coming here dating from 1885
IS over and we are now having genuine
May weather in March. In the interest of
one OF the leading Industries OF the terri
tOry-stock groWing-it could not De better,
ne STOCK that came through the protracted
ana severe storm, or series Of storms. were
very weak, and had March given us a lib.
erai share vi its buster with more or les,
severe snow storms and keen northeast
winds, the losses Of stock would have zen
much greater than they are Already
Prom the moist valley 10 the withered hill
Leo Us The breeze, the vivid veldure runs
And SWelS and deepens"
ana stock of all kinds is recuperating ram
IDLY. The danger of further mortality
among the herds and fiocks of this TERRITORY
IS Iully past. Fort Benton is the center OF
probably the greatest range country OF
montana, both as 10 the extent and excel
fence OF the same. The oyercrowding of
ranges, which has been disastrous in othe
which we are doubtless indebted 10 our re-
motenesS from railroads. 1t is $50 miles
rom Fort Benton 10 Helena. the nearest
point ON the Northern Pacific, and nearly
twice that distance to the utmost points of
the northern ranges. From the best infor-
nation that | can get, as the result Of in
teryleWs with many owners of herds, |
place the
loss OF CATTLE
in Northern Montana at 20 per cent. OF
sheep at II per cent. of horses no loss out
OF the ordinary. If the whole of Montana
Is to- be taken into the count these. figures
would have to be slightly increased. Ex-
aggerated and outrageous reports as to the
stock losses of this territory have been sent
to the Eastern press by unreliable cor
respondents. and therefore desire to give
TO the readers Of the GLOBE the FOREGOING
as The correct situation, as nearly as can be
arrived at at this time. Of course it is an
lmposSibil!ty TO give the exact percentage
OF the loss as yet, but l think it will be
found that these estimates are not far out
OF the way. For five or six years past the
Northern, Union and Canadian Pacific
railroad companies have talked about and
promished 10 build branch roads into North
as the objective point. But it
is an apparent fact that they
have not done it. and do not know that
they. or either of them. are likely to fulfill
the promise very soon. However we are
soon TO have railroad and from quarter
that was little thought of until within the
last year-the st. Paul, MINNEAPOLIS e.
Manitoba road. which promises TO build GOO
miles OF track this season, from Alinot to
Helena. Preparations are going forward
on an extensive scale for this great work.
and there seems to be no doubt as 10 its &C
complishment. The preliminary survey has
been run the entire length and
THE ENGINEERS
are now busy at various points locating the
line. AS the snow is entirely gone and the
frost out of the grould in Montana as far
east as the influence of the genial chinook
wind is felt (say to the big bend of Milk
river it Is expected that work will begin in
this section just as soon as the Sub-contracts
can be let. St. Paul does not dream of the
vast and unsurpassed country that
is soon to be opened up by this
road and made tributary to the Twin Cities.
The road does not pass through a mile OF
bad lands but wholly through 4 productive
region where agriculture and stock growing
will flourish in the highest degree. a
comparison between this route and that of
the Northern Pacific would not be fiattering
to the latter. and in the important matter
OF grades the Manitoba has 4 most decided
advantage, in that its maximum grade for
the magnificent distance named is forty-fiye
feet to the mile This road passes through
a wonderful country in Montana. | do not
speak OF Dakota, because 1 have no partic-
ular knowledge Of that region. From Fort
BufOrd it follows the valley OF the Missouri
to the mouth of Milk river: thence I'D the
valley of the latter stream to Fort AsSinni-
hOiNp' thence SOuth WpSfnrlI- IN EO-t
and on TO Helena and Butte. through the
coal fields of Northern Montana and
tapping the great mining districts of the
territory. Much of this country is still all
Indian reservation, the Manitoba company
having been granted right of way through
it by congress. but it will unquestonably be
OPENED TO SETTLEMENT
by the next congress, as satisfactory treat
les 10 that end have been made with the
Indians by the Northwestern indian com
mission. When this result is achieved it
will be the most inviting field for the set
tier left in the great Northwest, or else
where quote from letter written by
an intelligent odd timer" who spent sew
eral Years in the Milk river country, as
showing some OF the features of that re-
gion, through the valley OF which stream
tie railroad runs for over 200 miles:
'From Fort BelknaD 10 the mouth of
Milk river, which emptieS into the Missouri
l. miles east OF old Fort Peek. the timber
gradually becomes heavier, and the valleys
widen out until they attain Il width of sey-
eral miles i'll places. The tributaries o.
this stream are numerous and i'm
pOrtant with broad and fertile valleys,
and the praircS back from the streams are
covered with Il heavy growth OF bunch
and buffalo grasses, the life OF stock.
In my opinion there Is no place out Ok
doors that offers more attractions to the
huSbandman and stock grower and no por-
ton of Montana that will sustain as large
population. When the railroad enters thu
fall and it is opened for settlement it wiz
fill up almost as rapidly as did Dakota
This new empire and that still west of it t.
base of the Rocky mountains. where stoch
and other industries are now fl0urishing,
will be put in direct communication with
the Twin Cities and will add not little to
their business and prosperity. As the Man
itoba moves on to the Rockies it would not
be amiSS Tor The business men OF your CITY
to look after and foster the trade of this
new region. 1t Will be worth the trouble
BENTON,
NaterI0Wn.
., N1,I,,